Chidambaram reviews security situation in J&K

Union home minister, P Chidambaram reviewed prevailing law and order and security situation along with chief minister Omar Abdullah at a high level meeting of officers in Srinagar on Wednesday evening.

Union home minister, P Chidambaram reviewed prevailing law and order and security situation along with chief minister Omar Abdullah at a high level meeting of officers in Srinagar on Wednesday evening.

A government spokesman said that various issues relating to the security were discussed in detail in the meeting.

Sources said that Omar Abdullah raised the revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, besides urging the Union minister for the handover of Srinagar International Airport, under partial control of Indian Air Force, totally to civil aviation authorities.Earlier in the day Chidambaram flew to Kargil from Delhi to inaugurate the workshop of 'Jashn-e-Kashmir', a project to impart training to youth in folk culture and art of the state at Kargil. The function was also attended by Omar Abdullah.

The official spokesman said that the Union home minister assured that all necessary steps would be taken to accommodate the development needs of the State including those relating to Leh and Kargil districts.

He said the State's cultural diversity was rich and its nurturing among the young generation needs focused attention. He said Jashn-e-Kashmir project would prove a boost in this direction.

Students from 10 schools of Kargil are taking part in this workshop to select the final team for the grand cultural show likely to be organized at Delhi, Ajmeer and Mumbai.Omar Abdullah stressed on taking all measures to preserve the novelty of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh's cultural heritage and said that steps aimed at nurturing and popularising it is the need of hour.

"We have to make effective endeavours to make the younger generation aware of the richness of our culture and history", he said.

On Zojila tunnel, Omar Abdullah underlined its significance for opening up of Ladakh area for the holistic development, economic welfare and employment creation besides making the area easy accessible.

The Chief Minister referred to the rich potential of Ladakh for harnessing wind and solar energy and urged upon the Union government to help in the sector both in the fields of generation and gridding of the energy so generated.